UNIVERSAL OK COSMIC TIME. 17 



the members of tliis Society must equally join in the common satis- 

 faction in the measure of success which has been achieved. 



Six years back, when the subject was discussed in this Hall, there 

 were probably not a few who viewed the propositions then submittfxl 

 as merely fanciful theories. Others, who did not refuse to recognize 

 their bearing, entertained the feeling that many grave difficulties 

 presented themselves to interfere with any successful attempt to 

 reform or modify usages so ancient as the computation of time. But 

 the Institute, as a body, was hopeful. The action taken by the Council 

 to extend the field of discussion and awaken the attention of foreign 

 communities, evinced confidence, and we may now ask, was, this 

 confidence justified? What are the facts to-day? Twelve months 

 have passed since an important change in the notation of Railway 

 Time was made with general approval throughout the length and 

 breadth of North America ; a revolution in the usages of sixty millions 

 of people has been silently effected and with scarcely a trace that it 

 has happened. That proceeding has been followed by events of 

 equal importance. On the 1st of October last a body of accredited 

 Delegates from the different nations, on the invitation of the Presi- 

 dent of the United States, met in Conference to consider the problem 



" the face of the watch or clock a secondary dial, showing the new afcemoon hours in Arabic 

 ■" 22umerals within the present Roman figures. 



Plate ,£:- ^— , No. 2. 



^^s \ 



■"Plate No. 2 shows the secondary dial. It must be of tfain material; and it has beea 

 ' found that made simply of paper and secured to its position by any gum whicli wMl adhere to 



■ an enamelled surface, the object is attained witljout any further alteration of the watch or 



■ clock, 



" The OoHimittee is aware that these seem trifling matters to bring nnder the notice of the 

 ' Convention, but questions of gr-eat moment not .seldom hinge en small details. It is evident 

 • from what has been set forth, that every person in the community may, at the cost of a few 

 cents in each case, adapt his watch to the 24 o'elocli system. 



" The Committee accordingly repeat their conviction, that with the disappearance of the 

 ' only practical difficulty at an insignificant cost, there is nothing to prevent the Railway 

 ' authorities and the commiiuiti' at large adopting the change a.s soon as they become alive to 

 ' its advantages," 



